Can roller



Nov. 2, 1937. w, WARREN 2,098,117

CAN ROLLER Filed Nov. 15, 1935- l I Z-2 "x I ml -l I I .6

. INVENTOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 2 1937 UNITED STATES rATENT 2,098,117 oAN ROLLER William F. Warren, Ardmore, Okla. Application November 13, 1933, Serial No. 697,749

I 2, Claims (01. 153- 12) not shown, for attaching the frame to a table or My invention relates to apparatus for rolling empty metal cans into a compact form for easy disposal.

The prime object of my invention is to provide a device which will remove both ends of a usual tin can or container, and which will roll the can into a tight cylindrical roll for subsequent disposition.

Other objects of my invention are to provide a device of this class which is new, novel, practical and of utility; which will make the can, when rolled, an object of sanitation; which is positive in action; simple in construction and operation, and comparatively cheap to manufacture; and, which will be eflicient in accomplishing all of the purposes for which it is intended.

The constantly increasing use of canned goods has, in order to improve sanitary conditions, necessitated in many communities the enactment of laws requiring empty cans to be crushed or pressed before final disposition of them is made. My invention is especially desirable in the field of sanitation because it provides a means for preparing the emptied cans for final disposal immediately after they are emptied. This is the most logical time for such preparation because at that time the cans are as yet, in a sanitary condition. A great step in sanitation is made when the cans are prepared for disposal at that time because oxidation and decay of any remaining food particles have not then progressed substantially. My invention not only reduces the size of the emptied can to a near minimum, but also minimizes the accessibility for insects and contagion carriers.

The device consists substantially of a frame adapted to be clamped or attached to any suitable support; and, a means for rolling the tubular portion of the can into a compact package.

The characteristics of the invention are best stated in connection with a detailed description of one particular embodiment thereof, which embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying one sheet drawing, in which:

The figure is a fragmentary side elevation of the device, a portion of two cranks, and the portion of the frame Which includes the clamping mechanism, being broken away.

In the drawing, the reference numeral I indicates as a whole a single substantially rectangular cast frame and 2 indicates the front face of the frame. The left hand end of the frame is provided with a continuation or extension 3 which is provided with a clamp or other means,

support'in such a manner that it extends outwardly from the support. The reference numerals 4 and 5 indicate, respectively, upper and lower bearing members which are preferably formed integral with and extend perpendicularly to- Ward the front from the respective upper and lower edges of the frame I. Journalled in the bearing members. t and 5 is a shaft 8 having a perpendicular handle or crank 7 on its upper end, and being bifurcated by a slot 8 cut from its lower end upwardly to a point adjacent its upper end. The shaft is free to be raised out of both of the bearing members, if desired, and the slot 8 forms parallel tines 5i and Ill. The oflice of the shaft 6 will be more fully described hereinbelow.

A cutter arm II having an upper perpendicular portion 2| is pivotally connected to the front face of the frame I by a shouldered pivot screw I2 and is free to move in a plane parallel to the face 2 for approximately ninety degrees. An integral outstanding stop I3 is positioned on the face 2 in order to contact with its upper edge the left hand edge of the arm I I and limit the movement thereof in one direction, while a boss I4 on the rear face of the arm II contacts a shoulder I5 on the front face of the frame for limiting the movement of the arm II in the opposite direction. The lower end of the cutter arm II is provided with aslightly sloping knife edge or blade I6 which is spaced slightly from the face 2 of the frame. The upper end of the arm I I is preferably provided with a handle 2| in order to facilitate its manual movement.

Directly beneath the blade I 6 and beneath the rear face of the blade and the front face 2 of the frame is a sprocket or toothed feeder wheel I! mounted for rotation in a plane parallel with the blade I6 on a shaft I8. The wheel I7 is keyed or otherwise firmly attached to the shaft IB and is adapted to rotate therewith.

The rear end of the shaft I8 is rigidly provided with a crank I9 whereby it may be manually rotated.

The right hand face of the stop I3 also acts as a means for assisting the boss I4 and shoulder I5 in holding the arm vertical so that the blade I6 is in its cutting position.

A guide 20 is preferably formed integral with and stands outward perpendicularly from the front face of the arm I I at a point slightly to the right of the blade I6.

In operation, a newly sealed can is placed in the opener by raising the cutter arm and placing the 2 bead of the can on top of the feeder wheel. The cutter arm is then returned to its normal position. This is accomplished by application of downward force on the perpendicular portion of the cutter arm. When force isapplied, the lowermost left hand corner of the knife edge is caused to puncture the can. The knife edge being sloped upwardly from left to right causes a substantial down-thrust on the top of the can when it is being rotated. This down-thrust is of sufficient intensity to cause the feeder wheel to bite into the bead of the can and feed it into the knife edge when the feeder wheel is rotated by its crank arm 9. The back side of the knife edge is so shaped as to cause the newly cut edge of the can to be crimped by being turned downwardly and backwardly, thus disposing of an undesirable sharp or jagged edge being left on the can.

The can having been emptied of its contents, is again placed in the cutter for a like treatment of the other end. Taken out of the cutter the can has now become a cylinder open at both ends.

The can opener just described is a convenient adjunct to my can roller, but is not claimed in this application.

I With both ends of the can removed, the bifurcated shaft 6 of my can rolling device is lifted upwardly in the frame sufficiently to allow the can to be slid into the slot of the shaft. The shaft is then re-inserted into the shaft of the lower bearing with the can in place. By application of force to the crank arm of the shaft 6 the can may be forced to Wrap itself around the shaft and be formed into an endless double spiral. Because of the small clearance between the back side of the shaft and the front side of the frame, the can is forced to be wound into a compact shape. By pulling upwardly on the crank I, the rolled can will be forced into contact with the bottom of the bearing 4 and the shaft 6 may thus be withdrawn from the can. The shaft may, if desired, be tapered in order to facilitate such withdrawal.

Obviously, the invention is susceptible of embodiment in forms other than that which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing and described herein, and applicable for uses and purposes other than as detailed, and I therefore consider as my own all such modifications and adaptations and other uses of the form of the device herein described as fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. As an article of manufacture, a device for collapsing cans, comprising a frame adapted to be secured to a wall or table, a pair of integral bearings formed on the frame, aligned vertically, and spaced an equal distance from the main body of the frame; a cylindrical shaft split from its lower end to a point adjacent its upper end journaled in the bearings and adapted to be easily removed therefrom; and a crank rigidly secured to the upper end of said shaft for rotating the shaft.

2. As an article of manufacture, a device for collapsing cans, comprising a cylindrical shaft diametrally split from one of its ends to a point adjacent its other end; a flat frame adapted to be secured to a wall or table top; apair of spaced bearings formed integral with said frame, vertically aligned, and on opposite sides of the main body of said frame, for journaling said shaft in a position spaced from and parallel to the main body of said frame; and a crank attached to the upper solid end of said shaft for rotating the shaft.

WILLIAM F. WARREN. 

